Mobile operator strategies - 09/03/08
Vodafone Germany would offer to its customers a way to bypass roaming charges when abroad, using voice over IP. It also partners with Deutsche Bahn on a mobile ticketing trial using NFC-based solutions.
Vodafone confirms its commitment to femtocell with a commercial launch by the end of the year. Vodafone is testing 3G home base stations from ALU and Huawei.
M6 Mobile (a MVNO in France) has launched unlimited mobile TV for the 6 M6 Group channels. M6 Mobile currently has about 1m subscribers.
Orange confirms interest in content, with the purchase of Cityvox, a portal focused on entertainment
with about 2.2m visitors per month.
Sprint Nextel is losing a MVNO deal with Embarq (former Sprint fixed line business), and could also face another blow with the cancellation of Qwest' s MVNO partnership.
T-Mobile has demoed 4G broadband technology at CeBIT with Ericsson.
Virgin Mobile launches services in India through Tata Teleservices. The target is to attract 5m customers in 3 years. The deal is a revenue-sharing agreement.
Smart Comms. (Philippines) plans to roll out i-mode services in the country.
Bahrain plans a 3rd GSM license tender.
Idea Cellular (India) plans to invest $250m upgrading and expanding its network.